Children at our Sunday Gatherings

 

You may have noticed a few changes over the past few months which have aimed to streamline our children’s ministries on Sundays. Firstly, after a year of serving us as the coordinator of the Creche and Blast-off programs, Bec Wilkinson has handed over this responsibility to Nikki Macken. Bronwynne Pocknall has taken on a new responsibility to coordinate our Winstonite programs in conjunction with Jacquie Sperinck and the Winstonite team. These women are serving us to ensure our children’s programs can care, teach and grow the kids to be like Jesus.

Secondly, we’ve moved Winstonites Sign-In to the name-tags table. Please sign in your Winstonite children when you arrive. The Winstonite team will collect the children on the COLA at the end of morning tea (or at the back of the hall if morning tea is at the end) and take them to their program. That means the adults can gather more quickly in the hall to resume our formal gathering time (nudge nudge!).

Bronwynne is, thirdly, organising a more relaxed holiday program for our Winstonite children. In the past only Creche and Blast-Off has continued over the holiday period. This year the children will be cared for by parents, but with a relaxed, devotional program including games. If you would be able to assist with Winstonites on one of the holiday Sundays, watching a devotional DVD then asking some reflective questions, or assisting with some games on the field or COLA, please speak with Bronwynne.

We continue to ask that parents make every effort to quieten their children at the start of our Sunday gatherings. Our hall has very poor acoustics and it would help the service leaders if they didn’t have to shout over the noise to get everyone’s attention. Furthermore, we ask that parents take their children to the children’s morning tea table to monitor how much and how their children are taking the food. At the moment the children seem to be acting more like vultures than being considerate of other, smaller children.

Whenever we gather together, we aim to listen to God speak, pray to him, and encourage one another so that God’s church will build us to be like Jesus and his church in numbers. This obviously includes our children. So please pray for our children and those who assist you on Sundays in training your children in the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Missionary Prayer Breakfast – Sat 25th March

Please join us at 7.30am at the Thomas Street building to hear about and pray for our missionaries. Breakfast included. All welcome.

 

Winston Hills Beach Day – Sat 25th March

We plan to head down to the coast, gather on the beach at Mona Vale (parking around Surf Lifesaving Club on Surfview Road) from 11am on Saturday 25th March. Please bring your own drinks and picnic lunch. Of course, toss in the boogie board and swimmers. From 1:30pm we will have some organised fun together, including a mysterious man cover in something delicious!

Everyone is welcome!

We have had several families and a few individuals join us over the past few months. It has been a delight to welcome Daniel and Danielle Muldoon with Mia and Charlotte and Ben and Elena Zunica with Dom and Matilda into our community. So on Sunday Sharon Partlett organised lunch and the Shoemarks hosted us. Together with a few members of our church, we were able to get to know them better over a meal, talk about our church and what it means to be a member of our congregation. It was a great time together.

If you meet any new people at our Sunday gatherings, please do not hesitate to introduce yourselves and assist them to settle. I’ve always found that explaining what we’re doing as well as introducing them to other church members is a great way to welcome someone new.

 

Friends of Northmead – Managing Arthritis

The Friends of Northmead is an initiative by Third Stage Empty-Nesters at Northmead Anglican Churches who desire to meet together and who also desire to bring their non-Christian friends into their friendship networks in a non-threatening manner.

Ministry Training

During the first half of the year, we’ve planned a series of training days for all congregations. The goal is to know what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and make sure we’re serving to the best of our growing abilities. Those expected to be involved will be invited and information about these events will be made available closer to the events.

 

Sun 2nd Apr – Kids Spot Training afternoon

Sun 30th Apr – Welcomers Training afternoon

Sat 3rd June – Leadership Team Training Day

Sun 4th June – Prayers Training afternoon

These training events are open for all members of Winston Hills. Please let Mark know if one of these is an area where you are interested in serving.

Western Sydney Region Annual Women’s Autumn Dinner

Tickets can be purchased online here for the dinner. For more information, please speak with Rochelle.

Dates for your Diary